Jerry Jones

"If this doesn't work, I'd be known as the idiot who wanted to coach so bad he blew it all. So this has to work." -Jerry Jones

As owner of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys since 1989, Jones has seen his team win three league championships within a four-year period. The Cowboys' Super Bowl victories of 1993, '94 and '96 made Jones the first club owner in the history of the NFL to guide his team to three championships within just seven years of ownership.

MAGNETISM

With all the money Jerry Jones has made, first in oil and then with the Cowboys, this 60-something grandfather could be perceived as quite a catch for ladies looking for a sugar daddy. Be advised, however, that Jones has been happily married to his wife of 40 years, Gene, a former Arkansas beauty pageant winner whom he met when they were both studying at the University of Arkansas. We might reconsider Jones' score in this category should he acquire a more suitable hairstyle.

SUCCESS

Since Jerry Jones bought the franchise in 1989, interest in the Cowboys built to unprecedented levels both nationally and internationally during the team's triumphs of the '90s. They set an NFL record with 160 consecutive sold-out stadiums, which included games from home and away. The team's three most recent Super Bowl appearances drew the three largest television audiences in broadcast history. Under Jones' stewardship, Dallas was designated the "Most Valuable Franchise" title from 1993 through 1995.

In December 1994, in a nationally televised Barbara Walters special on ABC, Jones was named one of "America's 10 Most Interesting People." He was also selected as one of 10 national winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, presented by Ernst & Young and Inc. magazine, that same year. In 1995, he was recognized by Financial World magazine as the owner of the most valuable sports organization in all of professional sports.

As a member of the NFL's prestigious Broadcasting Committee, Jerry played a prominent role in the 1993 deal that established FOX as the rights holder for the National Football Conference television package. Jones was also a key player in the NFL's most recent TV agreement, which set the standards for all pro sports and network television partnerships.

Following a few consecutive lackluster seasons, perhaps Jones' best move in recent years was his hiring of proven winning coach Bill Parcells in 2003. Jerry had to agree to leave the coaching to Parcells, relinquishing some of the control of his organization to another individual. For a guy with a very hands-on approach to management, that is a minor accomplishment in itself.

Jerry Jones Biography

Jerrel Wayne Jones was born on October 13, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, and his family relocated to North Little Rock, Arkansas when Jerry was an infant. In his teens, he was a star running back at North Little Rock High School, and was awarded a football scholarship from the University of Arkansas. As co-captain and starting guard of the 1964 squad, the team went 11-0, beat Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl, and won the national championship. He met his wife, Gene, a former beauty pageant winner, while the two were attending the University of Arkansas. They were married shortly thereafter and had three children, Stephen, Charlotte and Jerry Jr.

jerry jones in his early days

Following his graduation in 1965, Jones was hired as an executive vice president at Modern Security Life of Springfield, Missouri, his father's insurance company. He passed on an opportunity to buy the AFL's San Diego Chargers in 1967, opting to further his degree at Arkansas. He received a master's in business in 1970, and then ventured into oil and gas exploration in Oklahoma.

Jones' petroleum interests became hugely successful as his business expanded throughout the 1970s and '80s. He eventually had offices in Oklahoma City, OK, Fort Smith and Little Rock, AR, Sacramento, CA, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. After two decades in the oil and gas game, Jones entered the world of professional sports in 1989, purchasing the floundering Dallas Cowboys (3-13) and Texas Stadium for $140 million.

jerry jones leads cowboys to super bowl

Jones quickly gained a reputation as a maverick, designating himself as team owner and General Manager. He fired legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry, whose resume had included 20 consecutive winning seasons and five Super Bowl appearances. He hired old friend Jimmy Johnson as Landry's replacement, and the team soon shot back up to its former glory.

In the spring of 1992, Jones was appointed to the NFL's Competition Committee, becoming the first club owner since the late Paul Brown to serve on the council. That same year, the Cowboys set a team record for most wins in a regular season (13), as well as most overall wins (16). In January 1993, the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl in 15 seasons, while the following year, they appeared in their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl, becoming only the fifth team to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

jerry jones wins awards

Shortly after the Cowboys' second consecutive win in 1994, Jones fired Johnson and hired Barry Switzer to coach. In November of that year, Jones was named one of 10 winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, presented by Ernst & Young and Inc. magazine. The following spring, Jones was recognized by Financial World magazine as the owner of the most valuable sports franchise in all of pro athletics. That same year, he found himself in some hot water after he signed the Cowboys to two separate sponsorship deals, with Nike and Pepsi. The NFL filed a $300 million lawsuit against him, while Jones launched a countersuit; both parties eventually settled out of court.

jerry jones hires bill parcells

In 1996, the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl in four seasons, and tied the record for most Super Bowl victories with five. During the 1996 season, Jones' team claimed its fifth consecutive division title, an accomplishment that had eluded all NFC Eastern Division teams until then. In 1998, with new coach Chan Gailey, the Cowboys recovered the NFC East crown.

In January 2000, Jones hired Dave Campo as head coach, the fourth in just over a decade. Following three consecutive losing seasons, proven winning coach Bill Parcells was brought in to replace Campo in 2003. As part of his agreement with Parcells, Jones remains in the wings and lets the coach command center stage. The decision helped Dallas enjoy one of their best seasons in several years.